Method of securing ornamentation to a wheel using a retaining article

ABSTRACT

A retaining assembly secures ornamentation having an inboard surface and a plurality of protrusions to a wheel. The retaining assembly includes a ring. The ring includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough. The openings receive protrusions that extend out from the ornamentation. Legs extend out from the ring and engage multiple sides of a portion of the lug nuts. This secures the ornamentation to the wheel hub. The retaining assembly also includes supports that are secured between the legs. The supports provide support and prevent over-travel of the legs when the ornamentation is being installed by securing the ring to the lug nuts. The supports include an extension and a cross member. The extension positions the supports with respect to the ring and the cross members are bent and welded to the legs that are disposed adjacent thereto to provide support and prevent the over-travel of the legs as the legs pass over the lug nuts to which they are being secured.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is a divisional application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/668,653, filed Sep. 22, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No.6,402,254.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to ornamentation for vehicular wheels.More specifically, the present invention relates to a retaining articlefor wheel caps and covers to secure them to the vehicular wheels.

2. Description of the Related Art

Wheel ornamentation, such as wheel caps and covers (hereinafter “wheelcovers”) are aesthetic devices used to enhance the look of the wheels towhich they are attached. Wheel covers are used because the manufacture,finish and mounting of a wheel cover to a wheel is less expensive thanmanufacturing a wheel having the same quality finish of a wheel cover. Achrome surface on a wheel cover is an inexpensive alternative to achrome plated or polished wheel. In addition, wheel covers providevarious types of appearances and styling variations, all of which may becombined with a single wheel design. The desirability of wheel coversis, however, directly proportional to the ability to inexpensivelyattach the wheel covers to the wheel permanently while adding littleweight to the overall composite wheel.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,854, issued to Nielson et al. on Mar. 29, 1994,discloses a wheel cover retention system which incorporates a pluralityof retainers secured to the wheel cover when it is mounted to a hollowprotrusion extending out from the inboard surface of the wheel cover.The retainers receive lug nuts, which hold the wheel in place. Thissystem of wheel cover retention is undesirable because each retainer isan element independent of the other retainers. Inventory costs andassembly costs increase with so many parts, which fabricate a retentionsystem.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,257, issued to Wright et al. on Dec. 9, 1997,discloses a retention system for a wheel cover. This system includes aring having a number of attachments secured thereto allowing the wheelcover and the wheel to be attached to the ring keeping the wheel coversecured to the wheel. This system relies on bolts, nuts and attachmentbrackets. This system is undesirable because there are several parts tothe system, which require alignment and threading, and the system iscumbersome to install and remove from the wheel. More specifically, fora user to access the wheel, the user must unbolt the four bolts, whichare shown holding the wheel cover to the ring and the four nuts shownsecuring the ring to the wheel. This task is tedious and undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A retaining assembly secures ornamentation to a wheel. The ornamentationincludes an inboard surface defining a plurality of protrusions. Thewheel is secured to a wheel hub with a plurality of lug nuts. Theretaining assembly includes a ring defining an outer ring periphery andan inner ring periphery. The ring further includes a plurality ofopenings extending therethrough between said inner and outer peripheriesfor receiving each of the plurality of protrusions of the wheel cover. Aplurality of legs extends out from the ring to engage multiple sides ofa portion of the lug nuts to secure the ornamentation to the wheel hub.Supports are fixedly secured to the plurality of legs therebetween toprovide support and prevent over-travel of the plurality of legs uponinstallation of the retaining assembly onto the lug nuts.

One advantage associated with the invention is the ability to secureornamentation to a wheel of a motor vehicle. Another advantageassociated with the invention is the ability to secure ornamentation toa wheel using a single element or article. Yet another advantageassociated with the invention is the ability to secure the ornamentationto the wheel using a single element thus reducing the assembly time.Still another advantage associated with the invention is the ability tosecure ornamentation to a wheel using a single element in a manner suchthat the orientation of the retaining element is predisposed eliminatingany requirements for alignment or orientation. Still another advantageassociated with the invention is the ability to secure ornamentation toa wheel without harming the legs used to secure the retaining assemblyto the wheel by preventing over-travel of the legs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated, as thesame becomes better understood, by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a wheel cover and a wheel cap;

FIG. 2 is a top view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view partially cut away of oneembodiment of the invention securing a wheel cap to a wheel;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a cut piece of sheet metal used to form oneembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of one embodiment ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the Figures, a retaining assembly is generally indicated at10. The retaining assembly 10 is a unitary structure that retainsornamentation, generally indicated at 12, to a wheel 14. In theembodiment shown, the ornamentation 12 is a wheel cap. It should beappreciated by those skilled in the art that the retaining assembly 10could be adapted to be used with other wheel ornamentation such as awheel cover 16. The wheel 14 is secured to a wheel hub 18 with lug nuts20 which threadingly engage lug studs 22. The lug nuts 20 include aridge 24 and a recess 26.

The wheel cap 12 defines an outboard surface 28 and an inboard surface30. Holes may extend between the outboard 28 and inboard 30 surfacesdepending on the venting and aesthetic requirements. Typically, theoutboard surface 28 is finished in a manner suitable for viewing bypersons outside the motor vehicle to which the wheel cap 12 is attached.In many instances, it matches the appearance of the wheel cover 16.

Extending out from the inboard surface 30 are a plurality of protrusions32. In the embodiment shown, the protrusions 32 are cylindrical in shapedefining an outer protrusion surface 34 and an inner protrusion surface(not shown). Depending on the material used to fabricate the wheel cap12, the thickness of a wall 38 defined by the material between the outer34 and inner protrusion surfaces of the protrusions 32 can only beapproximately forty to fifty percent of the thickness of the wheel cap12 between the inboard surface 30 and the outboard surface 28. If thethickness of the wall 38 is greater, it will create recesses in theoutboard surface 28 detracting from the aesthetic quality of theoutboard surface 28. Stop flanges 40 extend out from the wall 38 andwill be discussed in greater detail subsequently.

The retaining assembly 10 includes a ring 42, best seen in FIG. 2. Thering 42 defines an outer ring periphery 44 and an inner ring periphery46. The edges of the ring 42 are bent under to increase the strength ofthe ring 42 while minimizing sharp edges. A ring structural bend 48extends around much of the ring 42 to aid in the strengthening of thering 42.

The ring 42 includes a plurality of openings 50. The plurality ofopenings 50 receive the plurality of protrusions 32 therethrough lockingthe wheel cap 12 to the retaining assembly 10. A number of tabs 52extend into the openings 50. The tabs 52 extend radially inwardly withrespect to each of the openings 50. The tabs 52 are spaced along theperiphery of the openings 50 and will frictionally engage the outerprotrusion surface 34 of the protrusions 32. The protrusions 32 bend thetabs 52 locking the wheel cap 12 to the retaining assembly 10. The ring42 is forced over the protrusions 32 until it abuts the stop flanges 40.This abutment positions the ring 42 with respect to the lug nuts 20 towhich the ring 42 will be secured.

Extending downwardly or outwardly from the ring 42, the retainingassembly 10 includes a plurality of legs 54. The legs 54 extend out fromthe ring 42 and engage a portion of the lug nuts 20. Each of the legs 54is spring biased inwardly to resiliently engage the lug nuts 20 suchthat the retaining assembly 10, and hence, the wheel cap 12, are securedto the wheel 14. Each of the legs 54 includes an outwardly extendingdistal end 56, which aids in the receipt of the lug nuts 20 into theretaining assembly 10. Each of the legs 54 is in a group of legsassociated with a single lug nut 20. In the preferred embodiment, thereare two legs 54 for each location that is to be secured to a lug nut 20.Only two legs 54 per lug nut 20 are needed because the ring 42 istreated as a whole. Thus, the two legs 54 that engage the outer portionof the first lug nut 20 are counteracted by two other legs 54 thatengage the outer portion of a second lug nut 20 diametrically opposed tothe first lug nut 20. This reduces the number of legs 54 required toretain a wheel cap 12 to a wheel 14 and provides a more true or centeredalignment.

Each of the legs 54 includes a relief 58, which receives the ridge 24 onthe lug nut 20. Disposed adjacent the relief 58, each of the legs 54includes an indentation 60 which engages a recess 26 on the lug nut 20.It is the contact between the indentation 60 and the recess 26 thatsecures the wheel cap 12 to the wheel 14 through the retaining assembly10.

Also extending outwardly or downwardly from the ring 42 are a pluralityof supports 64. The plurality of supports 64 are fixedly secured betweenthe plurality of legs 54. The supports 64 support the legs 54. Inaddition, the supports 64 prevent the legs 54 from extending outwardlyto the point where the legs 54 are harmed or damaged upon theinstallation thereof. When a leg 54 is extended beyond its resilientcapacity, it is referred to as over-travel. Over-travel weakens the legs54 and is prevented through the incorporation of the supports 64 intothe ring 42.

Each of the supports 64 includes an extension 66. The extension 66 isconnected to the outer ring periphery 44 of the ring 42. The supports 64are located between each of the two legs 54. Therefore, an extension 66extends out from the outer ring periphery 44 between each of the legs 54extending out from the outer ring periphery 44.

Each of the supports 64 further includes a cross member 68 that extendsgenerally perpendicularly to the extension 66 at the end thereof. Beforethe ring 42 is completely formed (FIG. 4), the extension 66 and thecross member 68 form the shape of a letter “T.” A cross member 68defines a transverse body 70 having two ends 72. It is the transversebody 70 of the cross member 68 that is fixedly secured to the end of theextension 66. As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, theextension 66 and cross member 68 are formed from a unitary structure. Inthe preferred embodiment, the supports 64 are stamped out of the samematerial as that of the ring 42.

The two ends 72 of the cross member 68 are secured to the legs 54.Referring to FIG. 5, it should be appreciated that the cross member 68is bent in two locations so that it can be secured to the two legs 54disposed adjacent thereto. In the preferred embodiment, the two ends 72are welded to the legs 54. It should be appreciated by those skilled inthe art that any other type of securing, i.e., bonding, riveting,bolting, and the like, may be used when securing the two ends 72 to thelegs 54.

The method for securing the wheel cap 12 to the wheel 14 using theretaining assembly 10 includes the step of stamping a piece of sheetmetal to form a ring 42 having a plurality of openings 50. This form isshown in FIG. 4. The ring 42 is then cut and portions of the ring 42 arebent downwardly to create the plurality of legs 54 and supports 64 whichextend out from the ring 42 in a generally parallel direction withrespect to the ring 42. Structural bends 48 are pressed into the ring 42to increase the strength thereof. The legs 54 are bent such that theyare able to receive lug nuts 20 therein when the retaining assembly 10is secured to the wheel 14. The supports 64 are bent similar to the legs54 so that they are disposed adjacent to each other. Then, the crossmember 68 is bent in two places so that the two ends 72 thereof areabutting the legs 54. The two ends 72 are then secured to the legs 54.In the preferred embodiment, the method of securing is by welding. Theweld occurs along the legs 54 below the distal ends 56 to maintain theresiliency of the legs 54.

The legs 54 are then forced over the lug nuts 20, used to secure thewheel 14 to the wheel hub 18, to secure the retaining assembly 10 to thewheel 14.

The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. Itis to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, isintended to be in the nature of words of description rather than oflimitation.

Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in lightof the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appendedclaims, the present invention may be practiced other than asspecifically described.

1. A method for securing ornamentation to a wheel using a retainingarticle, said method comprising the steps of: forming a ring having aninner side and an outer side; bending portions of the ring to create aplurality of legs extending perpendicular from the inner side of thering and generally parallel to one another; bending extensions of thering to create supports for the legs; attaching a wheel ornamentation tothe outer side of ring; and attaching the ring to a wheel via the legs.2. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of flexing theextensions such that ends thereof are disposed adjacent the legs.
 3. Amethod as set forth in claim 1 including the step of fixedly securingthe ends of the extensions to the legs.
 4. A method as set forth inclaim 3 wherein said step of fixedly securing includes the stop ofwelding.
 5. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step ofstamping structural bends therein to strengthen the ring.
 6. A method asset forth in claim 1 including the step of forming a plurality ofopenings in the ring.
 7. A method as set forth in claim 6 including thestep of forcing a portion of the ornamentation into each of theopenings.
 8. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step ofbending the legs to receive lug nuts when the retaining article issecured to a wheel.
 9. A method as set forth in claim 1 including thestep of securing the retaining article to the wheel by forcing each ofthe legs over lug nuts used to secure the wheel to a wheel hub.
 10. Amethod as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of forming comprisesstamping a piece of sheet metal to form the ring.
 11. A method as setforth in claim 6 including the step of stamping protrusions into each ofthe openings.
 12. A method as set forth in claim 10 including the stepof cutting the ring.
 13. A method for securing ornamentation to a wheelusing a retaining article, the method comprising the steps of: stampinga piece of sheet metal to form a ring having an inner side, and outerside and a plurality of openings; cutting the ring; bending portions ofthe ring to create a plurality of legs extending pendicular from theinner side of the ring and generally parallel to one another; bendingextensions of the ring to create supports for the legs; attaching awheel ornamentation to the outer side of the ring; and attaching tilering to a wheel via the legs.
 14. A method as set forth in claim 13including the step of flexing the extensions such that ends thereof aredisposed adjacent the legs.
 15. A method as set forth in claim 13including the step of fixedly securing the ends of the extensions to thelegs.
 16. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said step of fixedlysecuring includes the step of welding.
 17. A method as set froth inclaim 13 including the step of stamping structural bends therein tostrengthen the ring.
 18. A method as set forth in claim 13 including thestep of forcing a portion of the ornamentation into each of theopenings.
 19. A method as set forth in claim 13 including the step ofbending the legs to receive lug nuts when the retaining article issecured to a wheel.
 20. A method for securing ornamentation to a wheelusing a retaining article, the method comprising the steps of: stampinga piece of sheet metal to form a ring having an inner side, and outerside and a plurality of openings; cutting the ring; bending portions ofthe ring to create a plurality of legs extending perpendicular from theinner side of the ring and generally parallel; to one another; bendingextensions of the ring to create supports for the legs; flexing theextensions to create cross members defining ends; welding each of theends to each of the legs; attaching a wheel ornamentation to the outerside of the ring; and attaching the ring to a wheel via the legs.